The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-28
GRANTS LAST COMMISSION.
Interesting Information Communicated to a
Scloharie School.

NEW YORK Cry, Sept. %, 1885,
My Dear. Sir-As it was my pleasant fortune
to be near President Arthur at the end OF his
term of Office. became acquainted with the
circumstances Of the event about which you in
qure. He has, therefore, requested me to an
swer the letter in which you state that qnes-
ton has arisen among the pupils of your history
class respecting the appointment of General
Grant on the retired list Of the United States
army: some claiming that it was President
Cleveand's first official act; others that he was
appointed by President Arthur on the Sd Of
March last. If you use the word appoint
ment as synonymous with nomination."
the real date of such appointment
might be good subject for discussion
by your pupils. The outgoing Presidents
term of Office ends at midnight on the Sd Of
March. but the incoming President does not per-
form an official act until he has taken the oath
of Office. By long-established custom he is
Sworn in" at II o'clock noon on the 4th Of
March. On the Sd DAY of March Congress does
not adjourn the session is prolonged into the
following day. If the proceedings are tempo
rarilv suspended recess is taken that what
ever Is done before noon on the 4th day Of March
may be regarded as done on the legislative day
OF March g. This time-honored fiction enables
the outgoing President to send messages, make
nominations and approve acts Of Congress up to
the hour of noon the 4th day of March. Thus
1t happens that according to the records of the
executive mansion and the journal of the Senate
U. S. Grant was nominated general on the re-
tired list by President Arthur on March 8. 1885.
but according to clocks and almanacs that Eomi-
nation was made by him about 1130 o'clock A.
NJ, March 4, 1885,
This statement however, does not answer
your specific inquiry, "Who made the appoint
ment of Grant as General the retired list:
Arthur or ClevelandY' l remit the decision OF
that question also to your pupils In the tech
meal sense the appointment may be said TO have
been made only in the army commission itself;
where, for the first time in the routine OF the
transaction, the word appoint" is use
thortatively. General Grants last commission
was signed by President Cleveland. But the APP
pointment in the common sense may be said to
have been made by the nomination of U. 5.
Grant to the Senate. That nomination was
made by President Arthur the (legislative)
Sd day Of March, 1885, in accordance
with the act of Congress, which he
had approved ten minutes before, au-
thorizing s'the President bv and with the
the retired list of the army person, with the
rank of general, etc" But for the legitimate
hair splitting purposes Of a debating society, it
is to be observed that President Arthur had no
part in making that appointment. According to
law the appointment could only be made with
the consent of the Senate In order to gain that
consent the President must first make the nomi-
nation; the consent of the Senate is given by
confirming the nomination. A few minutes after
General Grants affair had reached that stage
| when the appointment (proper) could be law
| fully made Governor Cleveland had taken the
| oath of Office and Mr.. Arthur was private citi
| sue commission general On the retired list
| only to the lone person" who had been named
| by President Arthur and confirmed by the Sen
ate. AS you have supposed, the nomination of
Grant was President Arthur's last executive
| act and l was informed that the signing
| of General Grants last commission Pres-
dent Clevelands first official act Perhaps 1
/ should add that, by the courtesy of MIR. Lincoln
| who was still the Secretary of Wharf.-The confirm
alton of the Cabinet Ministers being, as
usual, delayed day or two-the pleasant duty
| of countersigning that commission was grace
| fully remitted to his successor, Judge Endicott
| Probably none but the of that distinguished
| father could afford thus to relinouish such a
| glorious opportunity of coupling ones name, in
| an official way, with that of the greatest fighter
| for the Union.
/ think you will be pleased to learn, even from
| so long letter, that in conveying to Ulysses S.
| Grant the last token of his country's regard the
official acts of the chosen representatives of both
| political parties were interviewer that it may
| always remain debatable which of them-Arthur
| or Cleveland-had the honor of comforting upon
/ Grant the final military rank awarded him by a
| grateful Republic. Very truly yours,
! JAMES c. REED.